What is the Ruffian Stakes?
The Ruffian Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. Contested at 1 mile on the dirt for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is one of the most prestigious spring tests for older distaff horses in the Northeast and a key early-season benchmark for the older filly and mare division. The race is named in honor of Ruffian, the Hall of Fame filly widely considered one of the greatest horses of the 20th century, who broke down in a match race at Belmont Park in July 1975 and was humanely euthanized the following day. She is buried in the Belmont infield. First run in 1976, the Ruffian Stakes traditionally served as a Belmont Park spring feature but moved to Aqueduct in 2024 as Belmont Park underwent reconstruction ahead of its grand reopening in September 2026.
When is the Ruffian Stakes in 2027?
The 2027 Ruffian Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Contested at 1 mile on the dirt with a purse of $200,000, the race draws a strong field of older fillies and mares from across the country pointing toward summer Grade I targets at Saratoga Race Course.
Ruffian Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Ruffian Stakes has a distinguished history featuring some of the most celebrated distaff horses in American racing, including Bayakoa, Lady's Secret, and Genuine Risk among its all-time winners. In recent years the race produced a breakthrough for trainer Brad Cox when Vault rallied last-to-first under Joel Rosario in 2021, beginning a run of high-quality renewals. Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown dominated the 2022 edition with Search Results, who posted a sharp wire-to-wire score under Irad Ortiz Jr. Pass the Champagne broke a three-race runner-up streak with a 5½-length rout under Feargal Lynch for trainer George Weaver in 2023. Soul of an Angel pulled off a 24-1 upset in 2024 under Trevor McCarthy for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., and Jody's Pride gave Joel Rosario his second Ruffian win in 2025 with a determined stretch rally for trainer Jorge Abreu.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jody's Pride | Joel Rosario | 1:35.04 |
| 2024 | Soul of an Angel | Trevor McCarthy | 1:35.40 |
| 2023 | Pass the Champagne | Feargal Lynch | [VERIFY] |
| 2022 | Search Results | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:34.88 |
| 2021 | Vault | Joel Rosario | 1:35.81 |
The Ruffian Stakes is one of the premier early-season distaff tests on the NYRA circuit and a signature event of the Belmont at the Big A spring meet each May.
